BT beats other ISPs in broadband tests

BT has come out on top in broadband speed tests.

Internet testing firm Epitiro collected data from all of the leading UK ISPs – checking the connection and download speeds every 15 minutes.

BT customers enjoy the best connection, followed by Virgin, Demon, AOL and Orange.

Broadband provided by cable companies such as NTL Telewest was not tested, however.

"Virgin, BT and AOL were the fastest services to actually connect to the internet, while Pipex, Orange and BT were up to four times faster than the industry average at delivering e-mail," Gavin Johns, managing director of Epitirosaid.

Consumers will never receive a service that reaches the theoretical speeds claimed by the ISPs due to distance from the exchange, numbers of people using the line, and even the cables being used. Find out how fast your broadband connection really is here.